The consent of time disciphering the errors of the Grecians in their Olympiads, the vncertaine computation of the Romanes in their penteterydes and building of Rome, of the Persians in their accompt of Cyrus, and of the vanities of the Gentiles in fables of antiquities, disagreeing with the Hebrewes, and with the sacred histories in consent of time. VVherein is also set downe the beginning, continuance, succession, and ouerthrowes of kings, kingdomes, states, and gouernments. By Lodovvik Lloid Esquire.

CHAP. V.

Of the taking away of the ten tribes from Iuda to Samaria, by Ie∣roboam: of the first diuision of Israel, of their warres and last destructions of the kings of Israel by Salmanasser.

NOw after Salomon, raigned Roboham his sonne borne of an Ammonitish woman named Noma. Ieroboam now being in E∣gypt when Salomon died, he was sent for by some of the elders of Israel: God brought it to passe, that when Ieroboam came from Egypt vnto Sichem, the people followed Ieroboam, and fled from Roboham: for hee despised the counsell of the ancient wise men which folow∣ed * 1.1 Salomon his father, and hee onely esteemed rash and yong counsell, whereby Ieroboam being strong and stoute, and subtile amongst the people, perceiuing the nature of the people to be drawen from the sonne of Salomon, God suffe∣ring * 1.2 these things to goe forward for the sinnes of Israel, Ie∣roboham builded him an house in Sichem, and not long con∣tented * 1.3 with that, he builded another house for his dwelling in a towne called Penuel.

Now about this time in Ierusalem, approched the feast of the Tabernacle, which Ieroboam considered of, and sawe it was dangerous to let the people to goe to Ierusalem, least the people should take pleasure with the rites and ceremonies of the Temple, with their solemne pompe and dignitie in religion, with their sacrifices and feastes, and therefore he erected two altars, the one in Bethel, the other in Dan, and caused two golden calues there to be worshipped. Here the tenne tribes of Israel committed idolatrie, forsooke their God, and they followed Ieroboam in all wickednesse. Thus Dan and Bethel with all the idolatrie of Israel, continued till * 1.4 Iosias time.

Roboham this while hauing but the tribe of Iuda and Ben∣iamin vnder his gouernment, repaired his Cities, fortified

his countrey, and gathered an armie of an hundreth and foure score thousand to fight against Ieroboam, and to bring Israel againe to Roboham. But they were warned by the Pro∣phet Shemaiah not to fight, saying, This is done by GOD, who of his iust iudgement will punish offenders: all this happened for Salomons sinnes. Now the kingdome was de∣uided * 1.5 to two names: Israel which continued two hundred sixtie two yeeres, and Iuda which continued three hundred ninetie three yeeres, but both Iuda and Israel forsooke God, and followed idolatrie, vntill GOD at length by his iust iudgement destroyed them vtterly: for the rigour of Robo∣ham in following of lewd counsell, made the people to re∣bell, the house of Dauid against the house of Israel: hee fo∣lowed women, and had eighteene wiues and threescore con∣cubines, * 1.6 hee had eight and twentie sonnes, and three score daughters.

Roboham forsooke the Lord, and therefore Susack king of * 1.7 Egypt came vp against Ierusalem, ransackt the Citie, spoyled the Temple, and tooke the treasures of the Citie, and of Ro∣bohams house: this was the first destruction and affliction of Ierusalem: for Roboham had transgressed the commandements of God: for no calamities could come to Israel, no countrey might annoy them, no king could hurt them. But when the Lord gaue them ouer for sinne, this Susack king of Egypt * 1.8 came in the fift yeere of Roboham, with twelue hundred cha∣riots, with three score thousand horsemen, and the people were innumerable that were with him, as Iosephus saieth, foure hundreth thousand footemen came from Egypt with him, Lubins, Sukimes, people of Affrica, called also Troglo∣dites, * 1.9 he had Aethiopians, Egyptians, with diuers other more nations, & he tooke the strong cities of Iuda, and caried their treasure to Egypt.

After the time of Roboham, who raigned 17. yeeres, suc∣ceeded * 1.10 him in Ierusalem his sonne Abia: against whom Ie∣roboam straight after Robohams death, came in armes with great expedition: they both prepared for the battell, the

greatest armie that euer was in Israel. Abia had foure hundred * 1.11 thousand chosen men: Ieroboam had eight hundred thousand men, and the battell met and fought: and for that Abia tru∣sted in the Lord, who is the stay of all kingdomes, and the gi∣uer * 1.12 of all victories, hee had such a victorie ouer Ieroboam, that Israel fled before Iuda, and God deliuered them vnto the hands of Abia being yong of yeeres, and too tender to exe∣cute such a charge, and to gouerne such an armie, so that the slaughter was great, euē fiue hundred thousand chosen men slaine, so that Iudea preuailed against Israel at that time, be∣cause they depended vpon the Lord of their fathers: so Ie∣roboam was brought vnder at that time. Hee was so pursued by Abia, his strong Cities taken, his men slaine, himselfe hardly escaped, the Lord plagued him that he could not re∣couer * 1.13 strength in Israel againe all the dayes of his life. For because God made him a king of a seruant, and he neglected the seruice of God and forgot his benefits, therefore he was iustly punished, for Dan and Bethel was the first and the grea∣test cause of his fall. I neuer read in prophane histories of such a number, neither in the historie of the Church foure hundred thousand souldiers in one armie, and eight hundred thousand in the other. Ieroboā after he had raigned in Israel 22. yeres, died. See you the anger of God for idolatrie in seruing & worshipping the calues of Dan and Bethel: for God gaue Israel ouer vnto their last destruction, which was in the time of Sal∣manasser Senacheribs father: for Iuda deuoured Israel, and Israel deuoured Iuda, that both at length were destroyed and ouer∣throwen: Iuda by Nabuchadonosor, & Israel by Salmanasser: both Ierusalem and Samaria made euen to the ground in the time of Zedechias the last king of Iuda, and Osea the last king of Israel.

Then succeeded Ieroboham in Israel Nadab their second * 1.14 king, the naturall sonne of Ierobohā, wicked, malicious, cruel, following his fathers steps in idolatrie & all wickednes. But God stirred vp one tyrant to punish an other: for Nadab did offend in prouoking the people to commit idolatrie with his golden calues, and as hee was most busie in besieging a

towne belonging to the Philistims, named Gibbethon: he was slaine of Baasha, according to the Oracle of God before spo∣ken. The sinne of Ieroboam was great, and therefore Baasha was appointed by God to destroy all the house of Ieroboam: he slewe Nadab, and reigned in his steede.

In Iuda nowe reigned Asa, a wise, godly, and discreet man, * 1.15 an obseruer of the lawes of God, a walker in his waies: and in Israel, Baasha the 3. king reigned, & warre grewe betweene Baasha king of Israel, and Asa king of Iuda. Ramah was builded by Baasha to that purpose, that none might goe in or out to Asa king of Iuda, who followed the example of Ieroboam. But Asa assembled all Iuda, and tooke the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, and builded Mizpah and Geba, two great townes in Iuda: & the warres continued betweene the house * 1.16 of Israel, and the house of Iuda. But still the Lorde had respect to Dauid, and to his stocke: for Baasha and all his posteritie had the like ende, as Ieroboam had, and his house. But Asa wal∣ked right before God, he destroied idolatrie, tooke away the altars of the strange gods, and brake downe the images, and cut in peeces the groues: hee deposed his mother Maacha from her regencie, and threwe downe her idols which she had made in a groue. Asa brake it, stampt it, and buried it at the brooke of Cedron, & commanded Iuda to seeke the Lord, and to serue him: for he knewe like a godly king, that in a∣bolishing * 1.17 of idolatrie, and aduauncing true religion, the rest and quietnes of kingdomes stoode. For when Zareus king of Aethiopia came against him with an huge armie of ten hun∣dreth * 1.18 thousand to Maresa a towne of Iuda, Asa praied vnto God when he should goe to fight, and acknowledged all vi∣ctories * 1.19 to come from God, and therefore obtained the vi∣ctorie ouer the Aethiopians, slewe them, and pursued them to Gerar, and there was no warre in Iuda vnto the 35. yeere of Asa. Yet he was reproued by the Prophet for his couenant with Benhadad king of Syria, and likewise offended God to trust in Physicions to helpe his disease, & not to seeke helpe at Gods hands.

About this time, Elias and Elizeus were borne in the mid∣dle age of the world. Capetus Siluius nowe reigned, the 9. king ouer the Latines: Eutropius calleth this king Epidus. In Assyria * 1.20 gouerned Ophrateus, and in Lacedemonia the fift king Doristus, at what time Smyrna was builded in Samos, in king Asas time, Nepher Cherres reigned in Egypt king, for 4. yeeres, and after him succeeded a king in Egypt, called Amenophis, who reig∣ned * 1.21 9. yeeres. In Athens gouerned Phorbas the 5. Iudge, and in Corinth ruled Basis the 5. king, after whom their kings were called Bacidae, as the Romane Emperours were named Caesares. In these daies, Hiel the Bethelite did build Iericho, which fel be∣fore * 1.22 in the daies of Iosua, at the sounding of the trumpets, and shouting of the Israelites. But the iudgement of God follow∣ed Ieroboams house, according to the Prophet, saying to Na∣dab, and to Baasha that slewe Nadab, That dogges should eate * 1.23 him that died in the citie, and the fowles should eate him that should die in the fielde.

After Baasha succeeded Ela his sonne, and reigned in Tirza 2. yeeres, and Zimri his seruant conspired against him: and * 1.24 when the people heard that Zimri had killed the king, they rose against Zimri, and made Omri their king. At that time Israel was in campe against Gibethon, and besieged Tirza, which siege continued from the time of Nadab, Ieroboams sonne, where Zimri kept him selfe in holde: and perceauing the citie should be taken by Omri, he burned him selfe, and * 1.25 the kings house with fire.

After this, reigned Omri twelue yeeres, sixe in Tirza, and * 1.26 sixe in Samaria, a towne which he builded, and was the first king that was buried there, after the building of Samaria, and * 1.27 after the burning of Tirza. After this, the seate and pallace of the kings of Israel were in Samaria, and they are often cal∣led the kings of Samaria, and the kingdome of Samaria, being so called of Samarus the lorde of that soile, or rather of that mountaine, where Samaria was builded. This was the iudge∣ment of God, to bring his purpose to passe, that one king should destroy an other king, vnto the last confusion of Isra∣el:

for such is the nature of idolatrie, that the elder it is, the more abominable it is, superstition doth encrease, and dan∣ger doth ensue.

After that Omri was deade and buried in Samaria his owne * 1.28 towne, Achab his sonne succeeded, one farre worse, and more wicked then the rest: for hee mended no euill thing in Israel, but added euill to euill, and augmented the sinnes of Israel: he married that vngodlie and wicked wretch Iezabel, by whose meanes (being wicked before) he fell to all strange and horrible idolatrie, and cruell persecution: he reared vp * 1.29 groues and altars to Baal, and prouoked the God of Israel more then all the kings before him. Yet the mercie of God neuer failed the faithfull: he stirred vp good and godly men in wicked and superstitious countreyes, as Abraham and Lot, among the Chaldeans, Tobi in Niniue, Raguel and Gabel in Media, and here amongest these idolatrous and wicked I∣sraelites, he raised Elias and Elizeus, Amos and Osea, faithfull Prophets to instruct his Church.

Nowe in Iuda king Afa waxed olde and died, in the time * 1.30 of this euill and cruell king Achab, after whome succeeded his sonne Iosaphat, who gaue him selfe wholy to serue the Lorde, and therefore preuailed against Israel. God gaue him a pure heart to seeke Gods glorie, that his enemies could not execute their rage against him: for Iosaphat trusted in the Lorde, and abolished idolatrie, and he prospered. Iosaphat builded in Iuda pallaces and cities, and hee taught the peo∣ple in Iuda, and all Iuda brought presents to Iosaphat. The Philistims and Arabians gaue him giftes, and brought him tribute.

But let vs leaue Iosaphat a while, and returne to Achab in Samaria, where Elias was warned of famine that should come to Samaria: of which famine, Menander in his Chronicles of * 1.31 the kings of Tyre, doeth make mention: for Elias was com∣manded to depart Eastward, and to hide him selfe in some place about the riuer of Cherith against Iordan, which for want of raine became drie, & the hunger grew great in Israel.

This famine was 800. yeeres after the famine of Egypt, in the time of Ioseph: yet the Rauens euery day fedde Elias, and * 1.32 brought him bread and flesh euery morning and euery eue∣ning, and he dranke of the brooke Cherith; thence went Elias to Sarepta, and there mette with a poore widowe gathering stickes, of whom he asked a morsell of bread, and a little wa∣ter, and the woman said, I haue but one handfull of meale in a barrel, and a little oile in a cruse, which I am about to make readie for me and for my sonne, that we may eate before we die: for there was no hope of any more sustenance: yet of * 1.33 that little she had, she gaue vnto the Prophet of God some part thereof, for the which afterward the barrell was full al∣waies of meale, and the cruse full of oile, vntill plentie of foode came, as Elias saide: hee restored the widowes sonne being dead, to life againe.

He was sent to Achab to shewe Gods mercie to him, and to his people in Samaria: for the famine was great, and God pitied the wicked for the godlies sake, and strengthned Elias with his spirite, to doe great miracles, by sending downe fire from heauen to burne the sacrifice, which he had prepared to his God, to reproue Baals prophets, therefore 400. of Baals * 1.34 prophets were slaine by Elias, at the brooke Kishon, whome their god Baal could not helpe.

But Elias was sought therefore of Iezebel Achabs wife: she thought to reuenge the deaths of her Prophets, yet her rage and furie failed, and her purpose missed of Elias. Achab by Ie∣zebels counsell, exercised all crueltie and tyrannie: Naboth was killed for his vineyarde by Iezabels counsell: and by the * 1.35 wickednes of his wife, Achab became a vile Idolater, a cruell murtherer, and as one that wholy gaue him selfe to serue sinne.

Nowe while Achab was in committing one euill vpon an other in Samaria, the peace ended which was made for three * 1.36 yeeres, betweene Achab king of Israel, and Benhadad king of Sy∣ria: for after that Achab had victorie ouer Benhadad king of Sy∣ria, (for when Samaria was besieged by the king of Syria, and

the hostes of the Aramites filled the countrey, yet God gaue the victorie to Achab. God before went about with signes and miracles to drawe Achab from his impietie, and nowe he giueth him victories, whereby he should acknowledge the Lord to be his God) yet still trusting to his false prophets, he ioyned the second time with Iosaphat king of Iuda, & went to Ramoth Gilead, to fight againe with the king of Syria, where Achab was slaine, and he was brought to Samaria to be buri∣ed, * 1.37 according to the Oracle of Elias.

When the king was thus slaine, the battell was ended: Io∣saphat returned to Ierusalem, for Iosaphat had made affinitie with Achab: for Ioram Iosaphats sonne, had married the daugh∣ter of Achab, named Athalia, a wicked woman, such as her mo∣ther Iezabel was.

Thus Iosaphat walked in Dauids waies, and sought not Baa∣lim: he was vertuous and godly, and followed the comman∣dements of God, and forsooke the trade of Israel: he aboli∣shed idolatrie from Iuda, and prospered in riches and honor, yet he was reproued and rebuked by the Prophet, for that he would helpe the wicked, and loue them that hated the Lord: for the wrath and iudgement of God is ouer all those that support the wicked. But in respect of his care and zeale * 1.38 which he had ouer Iuda, he had happie successe in all his re∣giment.

In the 25. yeere of his reigne, he called all the Elders and chiefe officers of Iuda before him, commanded them seuere∣ly to walke vprightly before God, and to reade the lawes of God to the people, and to acquaint them with the true religi∣on: his reward was therefore peace and quietnes within Iu∣da: praemium piorum pax. For the Philistims paied their ordina∣rie tribute euery yeere, and the Arabians (as Iosephus saieth) paied yeerely to Iosaphat 630. Lambes, and so many yong kids. The Lord gaue to Iosaphat victories ouer the Ammonits, * 1.39 Moabites, and Idumeans: for the children of Ammon and Mo∣ab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, and one slewe an other.

Thus God gaue vnto him marueilous victories ouer his enemies, and Iuda flourished 25. yeeres, the whole time of Iosaphats gouernment, the time of his father Asa, and the time of his Grandfather Abia, three good kings of Iuda, during the time of 69. yeeres, Iuda preuailed against Israel.

After Iosaphats daies, his sonne Ioram succeeded, who of∣fended * 1.40 the Lorde, and walked in the waies of the kings of I∣srael, and followed the steppes of his father in lawe Achab. Io∣ram made him selfe strong, beganne in his first entring vnto the kingdome, to play the tyrant: for hee slewe all his bre∣thren with the sworde, and therefore Edom rebelled against * 1.41 Iuda, because he had forsaken the God of his fathers.

The Philistims were stirred vp against Ioram, and the Arabi∣ans: * 1.42 he was cruell, and became a tyrant euen vnto those, whome by nature he ought to haue most chiefly defended. But Elias prophesied to him the rewarde and iustice of God that would ensue thereof, as Ioram afterwards felt: for as he spared no blood, but made hauocke of his brethren, and of his countrey, with the sworde: so it happened to him, to his wiues, and to his children, by the Arabians, and other barba∣rous people of the Ethiopians, who inuaded his countrey, dis∣possessed him of his life and liuing, & such calamities which with his eies he sawe: he died most miserably, his guttes gu∣shing out, being in the displeasure of God and man.

Thus is idolatrie rewarded: one onely sonne named O∣chosias, * 1.43 and that the yongest, escaped the sworde, and he suc∣ceeded his father, as wicked as hee, a very Idolater, for hee could not be good, being the sonne of Ioram, borne of A∣thalia, the daughter of Achab: hee followed his mothers counsell, and walked in the way of Achab, and went with Io∣ram Achabs sonne, to fight against Hazael, king of Syria, and he * 1.44 was in that warre wounded, and after taken by Iehu king of Israel, who hiding him selfe in Samaria, Iehu slewe him and Ioram king of Israel, for so he was of God commaunded, and after a while he brake the necke of Iezabel Achabs wife, and * 1.45 reigned him selfe king in Israel, who was by God appointed

to execute iudgement vpon the house of Achab.

This king Iehu was annointed king for that purpose: Ocho∣sias liued * 1.46 but one yere: which when his mother Athalia heard of, she rose & destroied all the kings seede, to the intent that there should be none to make title to the crowne, that there∣by she might vsurpe the gouernment: onely Iosias was saued by Iorams daughter, who had maried Iehoiada the high Priest, and his owne sister. This time by the tyrannie of this wicked Queene, the stock of Salomon the sonne of Dauid perished, & the kingdom of Iuda fell to the posteritie of Nathan, an other sonne of Dauid, of whose house it pleased God that Messias should be borne, so that the posteritie of Salomon was altoge∣ther extinguished. This Queene restored the temple of Baal, & raised vp altars, & nourished false prophets and priests to * 1.47 maintaine idolatrie in Iuda. This Queene reigned 7. yeeres, then was she slaine at the commandement of Iehoiada the hie Priest, the house of Baal destroied, and his altars broken, and Mattan the Priest of Baal slaine. Ioas nowe beganne to roote out all idolatrie, and to set in order all thinges in Iuda: hee * 1.48 pleased God, and walked in his waies, while Iehoiada the high Priest liued, who was a faithfull Counsellor vnto him.

But after his death, Ioas wanted good councell: he follow∣ed * 1.49 flatterers, and by them he was brought to idolatrie, and after to tyrannie, which alwaies ioyne together: for Ioas killed Zacharie the sonne of Iehoiada the high Priest, and a Prophet of the Lorde, who had saued him from the tyrannie of Athalia. * 1.50 This is that Zacharie of whom Christ maketh mētion in Luke, saying, that from the blood of Abel the iust, vnto the blood of Zacharie the Prophet, &c. But what came of this? The king of Aram, he came with a small company against Ioas, against Iu∣da, * 1.51 and Ierusalem, and destroied all the princes of the people, and sent all the spoile of them vnto the king of Damascus, and Ioas him selfe was of his owne seruants slaine.

In Ioas time, Elizeus the Prophet died, and Homer liued, the first and most ancient learned amongest the Grecians. While * 1.52 Ioram the sonne of Achab reigned king in Israel, and Ioram

the sonne of Iosaphat reigned king in Iuda, being ioyned in af∣finitie by marriage. In other countreies reigned Persusennis * 1.53 king in Egypt: from this king, and from Cheopes his predeces∣sor in Egypt, doeth Herodotus make mention, not of the nom∣ber, but of the names of the kings of Egypt. In Athens gouer∣ned Mezades 30. yeeres, the 6. Iudge, and in Corinth likewise * 1.54 Agelas the 6. king. In the daies of Ioram king of Iuda, reigned ouer the Latines the 10. king Tiberinus Siluius 8. yeeres.

This king being drowned in the riuer called then Albula, * 1.55 afterward named Tiber, after his owne name, Agrippa Siluius succeeded him the 11. king, and he reigned 40. yeeres ouer the Latines. In Lacedemonia, Archelaus the 7. king, who reigned 60. yeeres ouer the Lacedemonians. The people of Rhodes at this time were lordes of the seas. Pigmalion reigned king in Tyre 40. yeeres: and in the 7. yeere of his reigne, his sister Dido (as Iosephus saith) builded Carthage, 143. yeeres after the * 1.56 building of Salomons Temple, and before the building of Rome, 135. Error is in Functius, and in other, in the time of the building of Carthage.

There was about this time of Ioas, a king that reigned o∣uer the Tuscans, named Felcinus: he builded the chiefe citie of the Tuscans, and named it after his owne name Felcina. The Romanes long after that, called that towne, and the countrey it selfe was called Gallia Aurelia.

Nowe to the kings of Israel and Iuda. After that Ioas had bene slaine by his owne seruants, for the stoning to death of Zacharias: Amazias Ioas his sonne succeeded him: who in the * 1.57 beginning of his reigne shewed him selfe godly, and did exe∣cute things vprightly, but not with a perfect heart, in respect of his predecessors: he was called a good king: he reuenged the death of Ioas his father, and putteth them to death that * 1.58 slewe him: he made prouision for warres, and nombred all the men, and hired a hundreth thousand valiant men out of Israel, for an hundreth talents of siluer, though he was forbid∣den by God so to doe. * 1.59

But Amazias went forwards, and slewe the Edomites, and

Amalekites, euen 20000. But the men of Israel requited that slaughter: they fell vpon the cities of Iuda, from Samaria vnto Bethoron, as they returned from Amazias to Samaria backe: and Amazias after the victorie he had ouer the Idumeans, * 1.60 brought their gods and their idols of Seir, and set them vp to be his gods, and worshipped them.

But the gods of Edom brought Amazias to the handes of Ioas king of Israel, and he was afterwards slaine by conspira∣cie, * 1.61 fleeing from Ierusalem to Lachis. While Amazias reigned in Iuda, Ioram liued in Samaria, and gouerned Israel, and Ioram also gouerned Iuda of that name, and at that time: so two Io∣rams reigned together, one in Iuda, the other in Samaria: af∣ter whome succeeded Ieroboam his sonne in Israel.

In the time of Amazias king of Iuda, Sardanapalus reigned * 1.62 in Assyria their last king, after whom the Assyrians lost their Monarchie: for Belochus had Babylon and Niniue, the two chiefe seates of the kings of Chaldea and Assyria. Arbaces helde Media and Persia vnder his gouernment. Hitherto nei∣ther the Assyrians nor Chaldeans molested Israel: but after∣wards God stirred them vp for his scourges, to punish Iuda and Samaria for their idolatrie, and after them, the Medes and Persians were as though they were the hammers of God, to destroy offenders.

After Amazias succeeded his sonne Vzias, named also A∣zaria: * 1.63 him did all the people of Iuda make king in steede of his father: he was but sixteene yeeres of age when he began to reigne in Israel. VVhile he obeied God, he prospered in * 1.64 all his enterprises. Hee ouerthrewe the Philistims, brake downe the walles of Gath and Ashdod, God helped him, and prospered him against the Arabians, and the Ammonites: hee builded towres in Ierusalem, and towres in the wildernes: his fame spread to Egypt, and all the nations about Ierusalem were vnder his winges: but he waxed proude, vsurped the Priestes office, and he was punished and driuen out of the Temple, and the leprosie rose in his forehead: for he trans∣gressed * 1.65 against God, to presume to burne incense, which

was the Priestes office in the Temple, being forbidden and resisted by Azaria, and foure score other Priests. Therefore he liued afterwards as a leper vnto the day of his death, in a * 1.66 house by himselfe.

Vnder this king Esai began to prophecie, and he prophe∣cied 80. yeeres the fall of these great kingdomes, Egypt, Sy∣ria, Assyria, Chaldea, and Tyre. Hee likewise prophecied of Kittim, and of the Macedonians. This Prophet was by Ma∣nasses * 1.67 king of Iuda martyred, & cut in his middle with a sawe.

Nowe during the time of this king Vzias, ruled in Israel Zachariah, the sonne of Ieroboam, being the last king of Israel that had the kingdome by succession of Iehu: for hee was the fourth in descent from Iehu: for so the Lord said to Iehu, Thy sonnes shall sit on the throne of Israel, vnto the fourth gene∣ration after thee.

Shallum reigned a moneth king in Samaria, and Manahem slue him, and reigned in his stead. In the 39. yeere of Vzia, be∣ganne Manahem to reigne in Samaria: he likewise sought not God, but with money sought the fauour of Phulasser king of * 1.68 Ashur, the father of Salmanassar, and graundfather of Sanehe∣rib infidels, and enemies of God, and therefore God was wroth, so that Manahem prospered not, and his sonne Peka∣hia * 1.69 succeeded him in Israel, and reigned two yeeres and died.

Nowe after Vzias dayes, his sonne Ioatham succeeded him in the kingdgme of Iuda, a man of great vertue, godly, and iust, and seeking to please God. Hee builded many ruinous things, by reason still of warres, and he was carefull to mend things amisse, so that Ioatham became mightie, because he di∣rected * 1.70 his wayes before the Highest: he fought with the Am∣monites and preuailed, and they paied him tribute. The Olym∣piads of Greece began in the second yeere of Ioatham. * 1.71

About which time, Romulus the first king and builder of Rome was borne: In Ioathams dayes beganne first the king∣dome of Lydia. Ezechias also was borne this time: some sup∣pose * 1.72 that in Greece Lycurgus the lawe maker of the Lacedemo∣nians florished in these dayes, after whom, the kings in Lace∣demonia

failed, and the gouernement was altered.

Nowe when Ioatham had reigned sixteene yeeres, Achas succeeded in Iuda, wicked, vngodly, cruell, and a great Ido∣later, like his predecessours: hee made moulten Images for Baalim, he burned his sonne, and sacrificed him vnto Idols, and deuils, and therefore the Aramites smote him, and Pe∣kah * 1.73 king of Israel slue in Iuda sixe score thousand in one day, and tooke prisoners two hundreth thousands, and brought all the spoiles and treasures vnto Samaria.

Thus Iuda was destroyed, & vtterly almost ouerthrowne at that time. Achas after this great slaughter, did sende to Salmanasser king of Ashur, gaue him golde and siluer, and promised him more money, but it helped him not: for A∣chas sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, and to the gods of Aram, or of Syria, which was the onely cause of his destru∣ction, which Esai the Prophet had warned him of.

After hee had reigned in Iuda sixteene yeeres, hee dyed, * 1.74 in whose dayes Romulus and Remus beganne to build Rome. Dionysius writeth, that the walles of Rome were begunne in the one and twentieth day of Aprill, and in the first yeere of the seuenth Olympiad.

After this spoile and great slaughter of Iuda, Salmanasser king of Ashur came vp against Samaria, after that Hosea had * 1.75 reigned nine yeeres, of the which he payed tribute for eight yeeres, and in the ninth of his reigne he was taken prisoner, and the Citie of Samaria giuen to the Babylonians, and to the * 1.76 men of Hamath, and to the men of Succoth, and to the other strangers, which the king of Ashur brought to dwell in Sa∣maria in steade of the people of Israel: and the tenne tribes of Israel were caried away captiue vnto the Cities of the Medes.

Thus was Israel dispossest from glory and libertie, and caried captiue by Nabonasser, vnto Assyria, after they had * 1.77 continued two hundred fiftie and three yeeres after Salo∣mons dayes, and after the going of Israel out of Egypt seuen * 1.78 hundred seuentie and nine yeeres, in the tenth Olympiad.

This last thraldome fell vpon them for idolatrie and blas∣sphemie, which Israel against their God committed, hauing so often tasted of his mercie, and seene his workes in defen∣ding them alwaies, euen from their going out of Egypt, where they were in slauerie and bondage 430. yeeres, vntill nowe againe they are caried captiues and bondmen from Samaria * 1.79 their natiue countrey vnto Babylon, 779. yeeres after their go∣ing out of Egypt: for they so prouoked the Lorde to wrath, euen from Ieroboams time, who builded Dan and Bethel, and e∣rected golden calues therin to be worshipped, vnto the time of Osea the last king: during which time, 19. kings reigned in Israel, of the which not one walked before God sincerely, but with horrible blasphemie & most wicked idolatry, they wor∣shipped idols and images, wherefore God gaue them ouer one to kill an other, and one to destroy an other, vntil Nabo∣nasser, which is Salmanassers time, who caried them prisoners vnto other strange countreies, and set strangers to dwell in Samaria.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Roboham de∣spised counsel.
• * 1.2

  Ieroboam sent for into Egypt
• * 1.3

  Ioseph. lib. 8. cap. 3.
• * 1.4

  Idolatry in Dan and Be∣thel.
• * 1.5

  The people of Israel deuided
• * 1.6

  Roboham had 18. wiues, 60. concubines.
• * 1.7

  Susack came vp against Ie∣rusalem.
• * 1.8

  Susacks armie.
• * 1.9

  The first time that Ierusa∣lem was taken by Susack.
• * 1.10

  Roboham died.
• * 1.11

  Abia moned wars against Ieroboam.
• * 1.12

  The greatest battaile that euer was in field, and the greatest slaughter.
• * 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cron. cap. 13.
• * 1.14

  Ieroboam died. Nadab the 2. king of Israel.
• * 1.15

  Asa the sixt king of Iuda.
• * 1.16

  Warres be∣tweene Israel and Iuda. 2. Cron. cap. 15.
• * 1.17

  The praise of a good king.
• * 1.18

  Zareus king of the Aethiopi∣ans great ar∣mie.
• * 1.19

  Asa his vi∣ctory.
• * 1.20

  Eutrop. l•…•…b. 1.
• * 1.21

  Nepher king of Egypt.
• * 1.22

  Iericho reedi∣fied.
• * 1.23

  Nadab slaine by Baasha.
• * 1.24

  Ela slaine by Zimri.
• * 1.25

  Zimri burned himselfe.
• * 1.26

  Ioseph. li•…•…. 8. cap. 9.
• * 1.27

  Omri buylded Samaria.
• * 1.28

  Omri dyed. Achab his sonne succee∣ded him.
• * 1.29

  Melancthon. Chron. 2.
• * 1.30

  Asa king of Iuda dyed. Iosaphat a good king.
• * 1.31

  Menander in his Chroni∣cles of the kings of Tyre.
• * 1.32

  The Rauens fed Elias.
• * 1.33

  The famine of Samaria.
• * 1.34

  400. false pro∣phets slaine.
• * 1.35

  Wicked Ie∣zebel.
• * 1.36

  1. Reg. cap. 22. Ioseph. lib. 8. cap. 8.
• * 1.37

  Achab slaine and is buried in Samaria
• * 1.38

  The peace and quietnes in Iosaphats dayes.
• * 1.39

  Ammonites, Moabites, I∣dumeans, by Iosaphat ouer∣throwne.
• * 1.40

  Ioram succee∣ded Iosaphat his father.
• * 1.41

  Edom rebel∣led against Iuda.
• * 1.42

  The Phili∣stines were stirred vp a∣gainst Ioram.
• * 1.43

  Idolatry re∣warded.
• * 1.44

  Ioram fought against Hazael king of Siria. Iehu slue Ha∣zael.
• * 1.45

  Iehu brake Ie∣zabels necke.
• * 1.46

  Ochosias liued but one yere. Athalia a cru∣el Queene. Athalia de∣stroyed all the kings seede only I•…•…as sa∣ued. 2 Cron. 23. 2. The stocke of Salomon peri∣shed.
• * 1.47

  False Pro∣phets nouri shed & priests to maintaine Idolatrie in Iuda.
• * 1.48

  Ioas began to roote out Ido∣latrie.
• * 1.49

  Ioas wanted good counsell, and therefore followed flat∣terers.
• * 1.50

  Ioas killed Za∣chary the sonne of Ieho∣iada.
• * 1.51

  The king of Aram came with a small company a∣gainst Ioas, Iu∣da and Ierusa∣lem.
• * 1.52

  Elizeus the Prophet died.
• * 1.53

  Persusennis & Cheopes, kings in Egypt.
• * 1.54

  Mezades.
• * 1.55

  Tiber first cal. Albula.
• * 1.56

  Carthage buyl∣ded.
• * 1.57

  Amazias king of Iuda.
• * 1.58

  He reuenged his fathers death.
• * 1.59

  He ouer com∣meth the E∣domites.
• * 1.60

  He commit∣teth Idolatrie.
• * 1.61

  Amazias slaine by conspiracy.
• * 1.62

  Sardanapalus.
• * 1.63

  Vzias.
• * 1.64

  2. Cron. cap. 26.
• * 1.65

  Vzias leprosie.
• * 1.66

  Esai prophe∣cied.
• * 1.67

  Kittims the Romans.
• * 1.68

  Manahem.
• * 1.69

  Pekahiah.
• * 1.70

  Ioatham king of Iuda.
• * 1.71

  The Olympi∣ads began.
• * 1.72

  Ezechias and Romulus borne
• * 1.73

  2. Reg. 16.
• * 1.74

  3215
• * 1.75

  Hosea the last king of Israel.
• * 1.76

  Samaria ta∣ken 212. af∣ter it was builded by Omri.
• * 1.77

  Israel caried to Babylon.
• * 1.78

  262.
• * 1.79

  Sinne the cause of Gods wrath.